Sheep: (Ovis aries)

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There are a number of different theories regarding the origins of domestic
sheep. However, most sources agree that they originated from mouflon. There
are two wild populations of mouflons still in existence: the Asiatic mouflon
which is still found in the mountains of Asia Minor and southern Iran and
the European mouflon of which
the only existing members are on the islands of Sardinia and Corsica. These
two species are closely related with the only difference being the redder
coloration and different horn configuration of the Asiatic mouflon. Some sources
even hypothesize that the European
mouflon actually developed from the first domestic sheep in European being
allowed to become feral and that all sheep are actually descendants of the
Asiatic mouflon.

Sheep were among
the first animals domesticated. An archeological site in Iran produced a statuette
of a wooled sheep which suggests that selection for woolly sheep had begun
to occur over 6000 years ago. The common features of today's sheep were already
appearing in Mesopotamian and Babylonian art and books by 3000 B.C.

Another indication of the early domestication is the fact that they are the
only species of livestock unable to return to a feral or wild state. Selection
for wool type, flocking instinct and other economically important traits over
the centuries has resulted in more than 200 distinct breeds of sheep occurring
worldwide. Modern breeding schemes have also resulted in an increasing number
of composite or synthetic breeds which are the result of a crossing of two
or more established breeds.